Detection of particle characteristics

ABSTRACT

A method of detecting particles in an air flow is described. The method includes receiving a signal indicative of light intensity scattered from the air flow at a plurality of wavelengths and processing the signal indicative of the intensity of received light at each of the wavelengths and a corresponding wavelength dependent parameter to generate an output signal indicative of at least one characteristic of particles in the air flow. A particle detection system is also described.

PRIORITY CLAIM TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. §371 ofPCT/AU2009/001162, filed Sep. 4, 2009, and published as WO 2010/025520A1 on Mar. 11, 2010, which claims priority to Australian Application No.2008904626, filed Sep. 5, 2008, which applications and publication areincorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof in theirentirety, and the benefit of priority of each of which is claimedherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to optical particle detection.

In a one form, the present invention relates to an optical smokedetector which uses a plurality of wavelengths of electromagneticradiation to enable particle detection at a range of sizes. In thepreferred form the invention will be described in the context ofperforming smoke detection using four wavelengths of light, however theinvention should not be considered to be limited to this exemplaryapplication or implementation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various methods of detecting particles in air are known. One methodinvolves projecting a beam of light across a detection chamber in whichan air sample is contained and measuring the amount of light scatteredat a particular scattering angle from the beam. Such particle detectorscan be aspirating, in that they actively draw air into them, oralternatively they may rely on natural air currents to move air into thedetection chamber.

It is known that the angular scattering properties of particles aredependent on the wavelength of incident light relative to the particlesize. Accordingly, smoke and particle detectors have been made usingmultiple scattering angles and/or multiple wavelengths to detectparticles of a predetermined size of interest. For example, UV light isscattered relatively strongly by small particles, such as smoke, butinfrared light is scattered less by such particles. On the other hand UVand IR light will be equally sensitive to variations in received lightintensity that are caused by factors such as drift in the system,soiling of the optics of the system or the introduction of largeparticles such as dust into the detection chamber.

With such multiple wavelength or scattering angle particle detectionsystems there is a need to be able to accurately determine whether thereceived signals at the multiple scattering angles or wavelengths arecaused by particles of interest or nuisance particles such as dust. Itis also possible to use this wavelength sensitivity or angularsensitivity of light scattering to track the nature of group ofparticles over time, e.g. to track the development of a fire as thesmoke particle size distribution changes.

Accordingly, it is an object of an aspect of the present invention toprovide means for determining whether particles of interest have entereda detection chamber using more than one wavelength of electromagneticradiation.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should notbe taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this priorart forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any otherjurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to beascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled inthe art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of detectingparticles in an air flow including receiving a signal indicative oflight intensity scattered from the air flow at a plurality ofwavelengths; processing the signal indicative of the intensity ofreceived light at each of the wavelengths and a corresponding wavelengthdependent parameter to generate an output signal indicative of at leastone characteristic of particles in the air flow.

The step of processing can include fitting at least one function to thesignals indicative of the intensity of received light and theircorresponding wavelength dependent parameters; and determining an outputsignal indicative of at least one characteristic of particles in the airflow on the basis of the at least one function fitted to the pluralityof plotted values. Advantageously the function can be used tocharacterise the nature of the particles in the airflow in a manner tobe described below.

A plurality of functions or a single function can be fitted to thesignals indicative of the intensity of received light and theircorresponding wavelength dependent parameters.

The function(s) can be, for example, a polynomial.

In some examples the output signal can be determined on the basis of agradient at, at least one point on at least one of said functions. Aplurality of linear functions could be fitted to two or more signals andtheir corresponding wavelength dependent parameters. In this case theoutput signal can be determined on the basis of the gradient of aplurality of said linear functions e.g. by averaging the gradients.

The two or more signals used to fit each linear function can representscattered light at adjacent wavelengths. Alternatively the two or moresignals used to fit each linear function can include a signalcorresponding to a common wavelength.

In an alternative embodiment, the step of processing the signalindicative of the intensity of received light at each of the wavelengthsand a corresponding wavelength dependent parameter includes, applying astatistical method to the signal indicative of the intensity of receivedlight at each of the wavelengths and a corresponding wavelengthdependent parameter to generate an output signal indicative of acharacteristic of particles in the air flow.

In these methods the wavelength dependent parameter could be wavelength,energy or frequency; or a parameter based on wavelength, energy orfrequency; or some other parameter.

In some embodiments the methods can include comparing the at least onefunction to one or more predetermined signatures corresponding to one ormore characteristics of particles in the airflow.

The step of processing the signal indicative of the intensity ofreceived light at each of the wavelengths and a corresponding wavelengthdependent parameter to generate an output signal indicative of acharacteristic of particles in the air sample can include comparing thesignal indicative of the intensity of received light at a plurality ofwavelengths to one or more predetermined signatures corresponding to oneor more characteristics of particles in the airflow.

The comparison is preferably performed at, at least three wavelengths.In an exemplary embodiment the comparison is performed at fourwavelengths.

The one or more of the predetermined signatures can relate tocharacteristics of particles in the airflow, including, but not limitedto, particle concentration, particle size, particle size distribution,particle colour, particle composition, particle type, particle shape,fire type, fire progression stage, the type of combustion materialproducing the particles.

By way of example, a signature could correspond to the followingparticle types smoke particles, dust particles, lint particles, othernuisance particles, macroscopic foreign bodies, particles in apredetermined size range.

The method could include normalising either or both of the signalsindicative of the intensity of received light or their correspondingwavelength dependent parameters, e.g. the values could be normalisedwith respect to the highest or lowest value.

The method can further include repeating said method one or more timesto track at least one characteristic of the particles in the air samplecharacterised by the output signal output over time.

The method could include comparing at least one tracked characteristicover time to a time based signature. This allows certain events orconditions that have a particular temporal characteristic to beidentified. With this in mind the method can include identifying acondition based on said comparison. Suitable conditions or events toidentify can include, but are not limited to: a fire, a change in afire, e.g. an increase in size, change of fuel or combustion conditions,progression of a fire stage, e.g. smouldering to flaming, a type of firee.g. the type of combustion material, cigarette smoke or an electricalfire etc., dust producing event, e.g. an event that creates or stirs updust, a transient nuisance condition e.g. a dust event, a detector faulte.g. failure of a light source or photo detector, encroachment of aforeign body into the detection chamber, e.g. an insect or piece of lintentering the detection chamber.

The methods can include pre-processing the signal indicative of theintensity of received light at a wavelength to remove the effect ofbackground light.

The method can include determining a concentration of particles in asize range on the basis of the output signal.

In another aspect the present invention provides a particle detectionsystem including, a detection chamber adapted to receive an air sample,means for illuminating the air sample at a plurality of wavelengths,means for receiving light scattered from the air sample at the pluralityof wavelengths and to output a signal indicative of the intensity ofreceived light at each of the wavelengths, processing means forprocessing the signal indicative of the intensity of received light ateach of the wavelengths and a corresponding wavelength dependentparameter to generate an output signal indicative of at least onecharacteristic of particles in the air sample using a method as hereindescribed.

In a further aspect there is provided a particle detection systemincluding, a detection chamber adapted to receive an air sample, firstparticle detection means including a first light source for illuminatinga first volume of the air sample at least a first wavelength, and afirst light receiver having a field of view intersecting with the firstvolume for receiving light scattered from the detection chamber andoutputting a first signal indicative of the scattered received light;second particle detection means including a second light source forilluminating a second volume of the air sample at least a secondwavelength, and a second light receiver having a field of viewintersecting with the second volume for receiving light scattered fromthe detection chamber and outputting a second signal indicative of thescattered received light; light source activation means adapted toselectively activate the first light source in a first time period andthe second light source in a second time period; processing meansadapted to receive a first signal from the first light receiver and asecond signal from the second light receiver corresponding to the firsttime period and process the received signals to generate a first outputcorresponding to the first time period corrected for background light;and to receive a first signal from the first light receiver and a secondsignal from the second light receiver corresponding to the second timeperiod and process the received signals to generate a second outputcorresponding to the second time period that is corrected for backgroundlight.

Preferably the detection chamber includes at least one wall within thefield of view of each of the first and second light receivers andwherein the first and second light receivers are positioned such thatsubstantially the same portion of said chamber wall lies within thefield of view of each of the first and second light receivers.

The first and second light receivers are preferably positioned withrespect to their corresponding first and second light sources such thatthe field of view of the first light receiver and the second volume donot intersect, and the field of view of the second light receiver andthe first volume do not intersect.

The first and second wavelengths are preferably different wavelengths,but could be the same wavelength. This principle could also be extendedto additional light sources and light receivers.

The first output corresponding to the first time period is preferablycorrected for background light by a process including subtracting thesecond signal indicative of the scattered received light correspondingto the first time period from the first signal indicative of thescattered received light corresponding to the first time period.

Similarly the second output corresponding to the second time period ispreferably corrected for background light by a process includingsubtracting the first signal indicative of the scattered received lightcorresponding to the second time period from the second signalindicative of the scattered received light corresponding to the secondtime period.

As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term“comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising”, “comprises”and “comprised”, are not intended to exclude further additives,components, integers or steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described byway of non-limiting example only with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a particle detection chambermade in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the detection chamber of FIG. 1along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lower part of theairflow-path through the detection chamber along line 4-4;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view through a top portion of theairflow-path of the detection chamber along line 3-3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial perspective view of part of the detectionchamber, illustrating the volume illuminated by the light sources of thedetector, and the field of view of the light receivers in an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section through the upper part of thedetection chamber also illustrating the intersection between the fieldof view of the light receivers and the field of illumination of thelight sources in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a modulation scheme used in an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of the particle detection process used inan embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C illustrate an exemplary output at four wavelengthsusing an embodiment of the present invention and three processingmethods associated therewith; and

FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating the drift in a smoke detection systemover time caused by soiling of the optical surfaces of the detectionchamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a detection chamber 100 of a smokedetector. The detection chamber 100 is adapted to receive an air sampledrawn into it by an aspirating system (not shown) and to detect thepresence of particles in the airflow. If one or more alarm conditionsare met a particle detection alarm may be sounded. In the detectionchamber of FIG. 1 an air sample is drawn into inlet port 102 and passesthrough an airflow-path through the detection chamber and is anexhausted from the detection chamber 100 via exhaust port 104. Part ofthe exhaust airflow may be filtered to provide a clean stream for use incleaning the optical surfaces of the detector that are prone toparticulate build-up.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the detection chamber100 along line 2-2 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrateorthogonal cross sections through the lower and upper arms of theflow-path respectively.

Initially air is introduced into the inlet port 102. Next, the airtraverses a flow sensor 106. In this embodiment, the flow sensor is anultrasonic flow sensor operating in accordance with international patentpublication WO/2004/102499 filed in the name of Vision Fire & SecurityPty Ltd. The ultrasonic transducers 108 and 110 of the flow sensor areset on opposite sides of the centre line of the flow channel and arediagonally offset across the centre line of the flow-path. The crosssection of the flow-path in the ultrasonic flow sensor 106 is generallyrectangular. If desired the dimensions of the flow path at this pointcan be chosen to maintain the cross section of the flow-path within theflow sensor to be equal with the cross-sectional area of the input port102. By matching these cross-sections no change in pressure is caused bythe ultrasonic flow sensor, and moreover by choosing a relatively flatrectangular shape (or other elongate shape, e.g. an oval), the verticalextent of the ultrasonic flow sensor can be minimised. Moreparticularly, it enables one of the dimension of the flow sensorperpendicular to the direction of travel of the ultrasonic signal to bekept low to prevent unwanted echoes (multipath effects) in the sensor.Next, the airflow passes along the lower part of the flow-path and flowsaround the bend 112 and enters a region of interest in the upper portionof the detection chamber.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the detection chamber100 at this point. This portion of the detection chamber 100 includesseveral apertures e.g. 114 and 116 in its walls for enabling the lightsources associated with the detection chamber to illuminate the airflowand also to enable a light receiver to receive scattered light fromwithin the illuminated volume. In the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 2and 4 an optical assembly 118,120 can be seen. These optical assemblies118 and 120 include one or more light sources and associated optics forilluminating a volume within the detection chamber 100. The associatedoptics with each of the optical assemblies 118 and 120 can include oneor more lenses and spatial apertures to define a desired illuminationvolume. For reasons which will become apparent the light sourceassemblies 118 and 120 are adapted to transmit light at an angle to thecentre line of the detection chamber 100 and thus are angled withrespect to the centre line.

This is better illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 which illustrate theillumination cones caused by each of the light sources and the fields ofview of the light receivers. Turning first to FIG. 5, which illustratesa partial cutaway view of a portion of the detection chamber 100. Inthis view, part of the detection chamber housing 125 is illustrated. Ina rearward portion of this housing 126 is mounted one of the opticalassemblies 118 comprising a surface mounted LED on a circuit board 130.A lens 132 is also provided. The apertures through which the lightshines defines a collimating iris to generate a first illuminated volume134. A mirror image light source assembly which is not shown in thisfigure also generates a second illumination volume 136.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, because of the angular offset of the lightsources with respect to the centre line of the flow-path the illuminatedvolumes 134 and 136 partially overlap, and do not intersect with theexternal walls of the chamber housing 125. The illumination volumes 134and 136 are terminated by the angled back wall 127 of the housing 125.The wall 127 can be configured to include one or more baffles to controlreflection from the surface 127.

The illumination volumes 134 and 136 intersect with the field of view138 and 140 of correspondingly aligned light receivers, e.g. photodiode142. The other photodiode is not shown in this figure. In this figure,the fields of view 138 and 140 are illustrated as cones to aidunderstanding. The intersection of the illuminated volume 134 andcorresponding field of view 138 generate a corresponding region ofinterest 144, whereas the illumination volume 136 and correspondinglight receiver field of view 140 form a second region of interest 146.In this embodiment the centre line of the field of view of thephotodiodes is set at an angle of 67 degrees with respect to the centreline of the illuminated volume formed by its corresponding light source.

In use, when particles in the airflow passing through the detector 100enter the field of view of one of the light receivers a portion of thelight impinging on them in the illuminated volumes will be scatteredinto the field of view of the corresponding light receiver. Theintensity of received light can be used to determine the concentrationof particles in the airflow.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the light sources118 and 120 emit radiation of different wavelengths. Most preferably,the light sources are capable of emitting at a large number ofwavelengths. For example, the light source 120 may be adapted to emitlight at a wavelength in the infrared whereas the other light source 118may be adapted to emit light at a plurality of wavelengths, for exampleat three wavelengths, one in the blue, one in the green and one in thered portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. As will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art other light emitting arrangements could beused, for example one or more broadband light sources could be used.

The light receivers (e.g., photodiode 142) are preferably positionedwith respect to their corresponding first and second illuminated volumes134 and 136 such that the field of view of the first light receiver 142and the volume 136 illuminated by the second light source do notintersect, and vice versa. However, as will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art the volumes illuminated will not be clearly definedcones, as the light intensity from the light sources will drop offradially from the centre of the illuminated volume. The exact profilewill depend on the light source used and optical configuration of thesystem. Therefore it should be understood that the preference fornon-intersection of the field of view of the first light receiver andthe second illuminated volume (and the second light receiver and thefirst illuminated volume) should not be understood to require no lightfrom the light source to be within the field of view of the lightreceiver, but merely that the light level from the light source is belowa certain acceptable threshold within the field of view of the receiver,for example the light level has fallen below the −3 dB point or to someother percentage of the peak intensity (e.g. 1%). Similarly the edge ofthe illuminated volume could be determined on the basis of the level oflight energy.

The fields of view 138 and 140 of the two photodiodes are also arrangedsuch that they substantially overlap at the surface of the detectionchamber on which they impinge. This is done to enable the backgroundsubtraction algorithm to be implemented in the detector as describedbelow.

Turning once again to the light sources 118 and 120, in a preferred formthe light sources include an infrared LED 120 and a red, green, blue(RGB) LED 118. This enables four wavelengths of light in relativelycompact physical space. Of course more or less wavelengths of light orelectromagnetic radiation, inside or outside the visible range, could beused in other embodiments in the present invention.

In the preferred form the sample volume is illuminated sequentially ateach of the four wavelengths. For example, the LED switching scheme canbe implemented as listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Light-source switching and receiver status Detector Detectorstatus - status - IR photo- RGB photo- Time Infrared Red Green Bluediode diode 0 On Off Off Off Primary Secondary 1.1 msec Off Off Off OffPrimary Secondary 2.2 msec Off On Off Off Secondary Primary 3.3 msec OffOff Off Off Secondary Primary 4.4 msec Off Off On Off Secondary Primary5.5 msec Off Off Off Off Secondary Primary 6.6 msec Off Off Off OnSecondary Primary 7.7 msec Off Off Off Off Secondary Primary

This cycle is repeated every 8.8 msec. A graphical representation of an8.8 msec cycle of the driving waveform for the four wavelengths isillustrated in FIG. 7.

In use four light scattering readings, one corresponding to eachwavelength of light emitted by the pair of light sources 118 and 120will be sequentially detected in accordance with the above modulationscheme. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart 800 of how the four light scatteringreadings are processed to generate a smoke detection level in accordancewith an aspect of the present invention.

In the following discussion:

The signals B(t) through to H(t) each comprise IR, Red, Green, Bluecomponents. For example C(t) has components C_(IR)(t), C_(R)(t),C_(G)(t), C_(B)(t), corresponding to the four wavelengths IR, Red, Greenand Blue respectively.

Signal I(t) can comprises three signals, corresponding to wavelengthbands e.g. a band extending from Red to IR, or Blue to Green.

Signal L(t), K(t), J(t) are each single signals.

Initially the light sources are illuminated as indicated above and lightis scattered by particles in the corresponding region of interest. Thescattered light A(t) is sensed in step 801 by the corresponding primaryphoto-detector and then amplified. Either a high or low gain amplifiercan be selected depending on the received light intensity.

Next in step 802 the amplified signal B(t) is digitised by an analog todigital converter. In one form of the invention, 8 readings at eachwavelength are taken when the corresponding LED is turned on and thensummed into an accumulated sum. Eight readings are also taken when thecorresponding LED is turned off and then subtracted off the accumulatedsum. In this step positive narrow spikes (i.e. transient high levelsignals) can also be removed as these spikes can be assumed to be due todust particles passing through the region of interest. This sum isaccumulated for 128 cycles (1126.4 msec) giving a raw smoke level ateach wavelength C(t).

The background level is then subtracted in step 805 in the mannerdescribed below. The result is signal G(t).

Next at 806 if dust discrimination mode is configured steps 807 to 811are performed. If dust discrimination is turned off then steps 812 to814 are performed.

In the dust discrimination path, in step 807 the signal G(t) ismultiplied by the measured dust normalisation factors NIR, NR, NG, NB(where NIR, NR, NG, NB are measured normalisation values whichsubstantially equalise the values if the particle size is large i.e. inthe case of dust). The result is signal H(t).

In step 808 the “raw smoke” levels are calculated for various wavelengthbands in the manner described below.

In one case the raw smoke values are calculated as follows:R to IR band raw smoke=(R _(R) −R _(IR))/(λ_(R)−λ_(IR))  (1) (whereλ_(R) is the wavelength of the red light)G to IR band raw smoke=(R _(G) −R _(IR))/(λ_(G)−λ_(IR))  (2)B to IR band raw smoke=(R _(B) −R _(IR))/(λ_(B)−λ_(IR))  (3)

Alternatively the raw smoke values could be calculated as follows:B to G band raw smoke=(R _(B)−R_(G))/(λ_(B)−λ_(G))  (4)G to R band raw smoke=(R _(G) −R _(R))/(λ_(G)−λ_(R))  (5)R to IR band raw smoke=(R _(R) −R _(IR))/(λ_(R)−λ_(IR))  (6)

These raw smoke values are the slopes of a graph of signal level H(t)versus wavelength. These signals are signal I(t) in FIG. 8.

The raw smoke signals in each band, e.g. “B to G raw smoke”, “G to R rawsmoke” etc. can be considered to be a measure of the concentration ofparticles in the particle size ranges most strongly scattered by thewavelengths, Blue to Green, Green to Red respectively. The raw smokevalues in a band can be used to distinguish types of particles or smoke(or other characteristics of the particles or an event causing theemission of particles) e.g. if there are more particles in the sizerange measured by signal “B to G raw smoke” than there are in the range“G to R raw smoke” the conclusion may be made that the fire is in aflaming stage.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate graphically the alternative processingschemes described in relation to step 808 of FIG. 8. In these figures aplot of H(t) at each of four wavelengths (blue, green, red, infrared) isillustrated.

In FIG. 9A the slope of the three lines 901, 902 and 903 are calculatedusing equations (1), (2) and (3) respectively.

In FIG. 9B the slope of the three lines 904, 905 and 906 are calculatedusing equations (4), (5) and (6) respectively.

In each case, the three slope values are then combined to generate J(t)at 809 by taking the average of the three raw smoke signals.Alternatively, signal J(t) could be calculated as the gradient of theleast squares error fitted line through a graph of the IR, Red, Green,blue components of signal H(t) v. wavelength as discussed below inrelation to FIG. 9C. This version of the process essentially combinesstep 808 and 809 into a single step. FIG. 9C is a plot of H(t) at eachof four wavelengths (blue, green, red, infrared). In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 9C, a line is fitted to the four intensity readingsand the slope of the line is determined.

In other embodiments a different function may be fitted to themeasurements. For example, a parabola or other function, and one or moreparameters of that function can be used to determine the presence ofsmoke. For example, the gradient of a tangent to that curve could bedetermined and used to determine whether particles of interest ornuisance particles are the cause of the scattered light. In someimplementations no fitting of a function will actually occur, however anequivalent mathematical operation can be implemented to form anapproximation of the system behaviour as characterised by the orderedpair (x,y), where x is a signal indicative of the intensity of receivedlight at a wavelength and y is a corresponding wavelength dependentparameter. In an alternative embodiment, the algorithm can apply astatistical method to the plurality of measurements. For example, a meanscattering level could be determined across the several wavelengths anda standard deviation from that mean determined.

In step 810 the signal J(t) is multiplied by a calibration gain factorto generate a smoke level in units of “% obscuration per meter”. Theresult is signal K(t). Negative values of signal K(t) are removed atstep 811. If K(t) is negative the result L(t) is set to zero. OtherwiseL(t) is set equal to K(t). Preferably the signal L(t) is also limited toa maximum smoke level, say 32%/m.

At step 806, if dust rejection mode is not configured the smoke level iscalculated as follows:

At step 812 the signal G(t) is multiplied by a calibration gain factor(preferably one gain factor for each wavelength). At step 813 the fourvalues can be combined, e.g. added or averaged (with or withoutscaling), and any negative values removed in step 814 and a smoke levelcan be output.

The output smoke levels can then be further processed in any knownmanner according to alarm criteria to raise an alarm.

In the above computations it can be advantageous to normalise, either orboth of:

the signals indicative of the intensity of received light at each of thewavelengths; and

their corresponding wavelength dependent parameters.

For example the raw smoke levels can be normalised to the smoke level atone of the wavelengths, or in one wavelength band. In one example thesmoke values can be normalised to the smoke value at the longestwavelength. Similarly the wavelength dependent parameter can benormalised against one of the parameters, e.g. to the parametercorresponding to the longest wavelength.

As mentioned above in the preferred embodiment of the present inventionthe particle detection readings can be compared to a signature tocharacterise the particles in the chamber or the event producing theparticles. This comparison with the signature can be performed at manydifferent points in the process described above, e.g. any one of signalsB(t) to (Lt) or a variation in these signals could be compared to acorresponding signature to characterise the particles in the chamber orthe event producing the particles.

In a preferred form of the invention, the slope (at more one or morepoints) of one or more functions fitted to the particle detectionreadings is compared to known signatures.

In some cases it is advantageous to track a characteristic of detectedparticles over time. This time based data can be compared to a timebased signature. Advantageously this allows certain events or conditionsthat have a particular temporal characteristic to be identified.

Signatures corresponding to various particle characteristics or eventscan be determined empirically.

In step 805 a background cancellation step is performed on the smokereadings E(t). This step is performed because over time, contaminationof chamber walls will cause an increase in background light to bereceived by the photo-detectors.

FIG. 10 illustrates how this principle of background cancellation can beimplemented in an embodiment of the present invention. Because of thephysical structure of the chamber of the illustrated embodiment eachlight receiver can be used to provide a “background” light level readingfor the other light receiver. To do this the geometry of the system isconfigured such that:

-   -   the fields of view of the two light receivers overlap at the        wall of the chamber to the greatest extent possible—this ensures        background light measured is comparable.    -   the field of view of each light receiver should not coincide        with the field of illumination of the light source corresponding        to the other detector—this ensures that light is not scattered        directly from the beam associated with one detector into the        other receiver.

In this manner each light receiver operates as a “primary detector”,detecting primary light scattering when its associated light source isilluminated, and also operates as a “secondary detector” for detectingbackground light, when the light source associated with the other lightsource is illuminated. This concept is illustrated in Table 1 whichindicates the photo-detector status corresponding to each illuminationstate in a system as illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, which includes 2 LEDs,one being an IR LED and the other a RGB LED.

Advantageously this allows the implementation of background cancellationfor all measurements without including additional hardware.

Graph 1000 of FIG. 10 illustrates the long term light scatteringreading, or smoke reading, from a detector, over several years. Plot1010 illustrates the received scattered light level from a detector,before any compensation is applied, e.g. B(t). As can be seen plot 1010increases steadily over time as contamination of the viewing andilluminated surface of the detection chamber occurs, increasing thebackground light level.

During manufacture it is possible to measure the background light levelwith the primary sensor in clean air to obtain “primary sensor manufbackground” value 1011. The background level can also be measured withthe secondary sensor in clean air to obtain “secondary sensor manufbackground” 1021.

In use it is possible to periodically (e.g. once per minute or hour)measure the secondary sensor value to determine a “secondary sensor infield background” value which is plotted as graph 1020. As can be seenplot 1020 also increases over time as contamination of the viewing andilluminated surface of the detection chamber occurs. Next it is possibleto determine a predicted in-field background value as follows:predicted in field background=primary sensor manuf background+(secondarysensor in field background−secondary sensor manuf background)

The value “predicted in field background” predicts the value the primarysensor would see in field if there was clean air in the chamber—this isillustrated by plot 1030.

Thus signal G(t) of FIG. 8 for a single colour is given by:G(t)=B(t) Primary sensor−predicted in field backgroundwhich is plotted as graph 1040 on FIG. 10.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in thisspecification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more ofthe individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings.All of these different combinations constitute various alternativeaspects of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of detecting particles in anairflow including: receiving a signal indicative of light intensityscattered from the air flow at a plurality of wavelengths; processingthe signal indicative of the intensity of received light at each of thewavelengths and a corresponding wavelength dependent parameter togenerate an output signal indicative of at least one characteristic ofparticles in the air flow, including fitting at least one function tothe signals indicative of the intensity of received light andcorresponding wavelength dependent parameters; and determining an outputsignal indicative of at least one characteristic of particles in the airflow on the basis of a gradient at, at least one point on the at leastone function, wherein the gradient is a ratio between the difference inintensity of received light at a plurality of wavelengths and thedifference in the corresponding wavelength parameters at said pluralityof wavelengths.
 2. The method of claim 1 including fitting a pluralityof functions to the signals indicative of the intensity of receivedlight and their corresponding wavelength dependent parameters.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 wherein the, or one of the, functions is a polynomial.4. The method of claim 3 in which a plurality of linear functions arefitted to two or more signals and their corresponding wavelengthdependent parameters.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the output signalis determined on the basis of the gradient of a plurality of said linearfunctions.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the two or more signals usedto fit a linear function are represent scattered light at adjacentwavelengths.
 7. The method of claim 4 wherein the two or more signalsused to fit each linear function include a signal corresponding to acommon wavelength.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein thewavelength dependent parameter is selected from: wavelength, energy orfrequency; or a parameter based on wavelength, energy or frequency. 9.The method of claim 1 which further includes comparing the gradient ofthe at least one function to one or more predetermined signaturescorresponding to one or more characteristics of particles in the airflow.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein one or more of thepredetermined signatures can relate to any one or more of the followingcharacteristics of particles in the airflow: particle size, particlesize distribution, particle colour, particle composition, particle type,particle shape, fire type, fire progression stage, particles produced bya certain combustion material.
 11. The method of detecting particles asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the step of processing the signal indicativeof the intensity of received light at each of the wavelengths and acorresponding wavelength dependent parameter includes: comparing thesignal indicative of the intensity of received light at a plurality ofwavelengths to one or more predetermined signatures corresponding to oneor more characteristics of particles in the airflow.
 12. The method ofdetecting particles as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least threewavelengths are used.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein apredetermined signature can correspond to the following particle types:smoke particles, dust particles, lint particles, other nuisanceparticles, macroscopic foreign bodies, particles in a predetermined sizerange, particles produced by combustion of a certain material.
 14. Themethod of detecting particles as claimed in claim 1 wherein fourwavelengths are used.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 1 whichincludes normalising either or both of, the signals indicative of theintensity of received light, or their corresponding wavelength dependentparameters.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 1 which further includesrepeating said method one or more times to track at least onecharacteristic of the particles in the air flow characterised by theoutput signal output over time.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 16wherein the method further includes comparing at least one trackedcharacteristic over time to a time based signature.
 18. The method asclaimed in claim 17 which further includes, identifying a conditionbased on said comparison.
 19. The method as claimed in claim 17 in whichthe condition is selected from: a fire, a change in a fire, progressionof a fire stage, dust producing event, a transient nuisance condition,detector fault, encroachment of a foreign body into the detectionchamber, the combustion of a certain material.
 20. The method as claimedin claim 1 which includes pre-processing the signal indicative of theintensity of received light at a wavelength to remove the effect ofbackground light.
 21. The method as claimed in claim 1 which furtherincludes determining a concentration of particles in a size range on thebasis of the output signal.
 22. A method of detecting particles in anairflow including: receiving a signal indicative of light intensityscattered from the air flow at a plurality of wavelengths; processingthe signal indicative of the intensity of received light at each of thewavelengths and a corresponding wavelength dependent parameter togenerate an output signal indicative of at least one characteristic ofparticles in the air flow, including fitting at least one function tothe signals indicative of the intensity of received light andcorresponding wavelength dependent parameters; and determining an outputsignal indicative of at least one characteristic of particles in the airflow on the basis of a gradient at, at least one point on the at leastone function; wherein the step of processing the signal indicative ofthe intensity of received light at each of the wavelengths and acorresponding wavelength dependent parameter includes, applying astatistical method to the signal indicative of the intensity of receivedlight at each of the wavelengths and a corresponding wavelengthdependent parameter to generate an output signal indicative of acharacteristic of particles in the air flow.
 23. A particle detectionsystem including: a detection chamber adapted to receive an air sample;means for illuminating the air sample at a plurality of wavelengths;means for receiving light scattered from the air sample at the pluralityof wavelengths and to output a signal indicative of the intensity ofreceived light at each of the wavelengths; and processing means forprocessing the signal indicative of the intensity of received light ateach of the wavelengths and a corresponding wavelength dependentparameter to generate an output signal indicative of at least onecharacteristic of particles in the air sample including fitting at leastone function to the signals indicative of the intensity of receivedlight and corresponding wavelength dependent parameters, and determiningan output signal indicative of at least one characteristic of particlesin the air flow on the basis of a gradient at, at least one point on theat least one function, wherein the gradient is a ratio between thedifference in intensity of received light at a plurality of wavelengthsand the difference in the corresponding wavelength parameters at saidplurality of wavelengths.